Vaccine Preventable Diseases

Vaccination against a range of bacterial and viral diseases is an integral part of communicable disease control world-wide. Vaccination against a specific disease not only reduces the incidence of that disease, it reduces the social and economic burden of the disease on communities. Very high immunisation coverage can lead to complete blocking of transmission for many vaccine preventable diseases (VPDs). The world-wide eradication of smallpox and the near eradication of polio from many countries provide excellent examples of the role of immunisation in disease control.

Vaccination against a range of bacterial and viral diseases is an integral part of communicable disease control worldwide. Vaccination against a specific disease not only reduces the incidence of that disease, it reduces the social and economic burden of the disease on communities. Very high immunisation coverage can lead to complete blocking of transmission for many vaccine preventable diseases (VPD). The worldwide eradication of smallpox and the near eradication of polio from many countries provide excellent examples of the role of immunisation in disease control.

Early immunisation of infants and completion of the full schedule of vaccinations up to and through adulthood contributes to reducing the incidence and burden of vaccine preventable diseases.

The "NHMRC Standard Vaccination Schedule" can be found in the publication The Australian Immunisation Handbook. People who have not received the full schedule of vaccines or who are unsure of their vaccination status should contact their local GP or health centre for "catch up" vaccination.